tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38776351343444274442015-03-17T05:04:07.914-07:00Marty Mac's WorldMarty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-22340942565629376432015-03-17T05:01:00.000-07:002015-03-17T05:04:07.930-07:00A Nigger experience<br />It's 2:30 a.m. and finally, I have been compelled to write about the word Nigger.<br /><br />And in the spirit of the late, great way-way-way ahead of his time, comedian Richard Pryor, I say, "Nigger, Nigger, Nigger, Nigger, Nigger, Nigger."<br /><br />Now what? So what?<br /><br />I said it. I say it often. I grew up saying it in my St. Albans, Queens, N.Y. neighborhood. I said it at my predominantly black college, Hampton Institute, now Hampton University in Virginia.<br /><br />My friends said it, my family said it, and that's right, niggers in the parks in which I played basketball, baseball and football, said it,. too.<br /><br />As a black man, I never, ever, not once, you get it, freaked out or was offended by its use until it the topic of whether or not it should be used became news.<br /><br />What made me write this was a CNN discussion Monday night moderated by Don Lemon. The panelists were Ben Ferguson, a white man unbeknownst to me until about 15 minutes ago; Marc Hill, a black professor at Atlanta's Morehouse College, a predominantly black institution; and Trinidad Jame, a black rapper, whom I'd never heard before 15 minutes ago.<br /><br />I didn't see the CNN discussion, although I wanted to, but I was watching basketball, tending to our five dogs and searching the internet for jobs. I watched a clip on the CNN website and that four-minute segment was enough for me. I'm glad brother Hill and James were there to represent and combat the lunacy of Ferguson (the idiot, not the city).<br /><br />I'm so glad I didn't see the entire piece because less than two minutes of this so-called educated idiotic Ferguson would have so disappointed me.<br /><br />He had the audacity to say that James' of the word, Nigger (yeah I said it, so what?) was the reason the rapper was on the show. There are so many derogatory words I'd like to use to Ferguson (in these days and times an ironic name and geographic location), but I'll resist.<br /><br />I am so tired of white people saying the word, Nigger, should be dropped. In fact, there are some African-Americans who believe the word somehow should be removed from society's lexicon, as if it doesn't exist or never existed.<br /><br />First of all, in my opinion, Mr. Ferguson (boy, it almost hurt to give this sucker that much respect), and those black people who want the word's existence deleted, the word Nigger never will disappear. So forget about that concept.<br /><br />It's a part of black culture, and if my thinking is correct, African-American people never will let it die. For many of us, it's often a term of endearment. It's a word whose versatility allows it to be used in many contexts.<br /><br />I grew up, hearing people, including my late father, Chalmers McNeal, say, "That's my nigger." Even more times, he'd say to me, "You're always my horse, if you never win a race."<br /><br />I've heard brothers say, "Nigger, if you don't quit fouling me, I'm gonna (sp) whip your ass."<br /><br />I had one prominant white NBA executive say to me, "what's up, Nig?"<br /><br />He surprised the hell out of me. Quickly, I said to the brother (you know, there are whites to whom we afford the love and respect calling them brothers, "What did you say? Where did you get that shit from?"<br /><br />He told me and he'd heard one of our friends often say it, and clearly he felt comfortable enough with me to say it. But I told him not to say it again. And he never did in that context, which initially was one of love.<br /><br />But the same brother, who grew up in a white, often racist neighborhood, but played mega-ball with blacks, recalled a conversation, as a young NBA player, he'd had with his father.<br /><br />I'm sure this wasn't the entire conversation, but his pops, whom I met before he died, said, "Bleep the Niggers."<br /><br />Basically his pops was saying, 'Forget all the dumb stuff, play your game and stop playing scared.'<br /><br />The names in that conversation aren't important, but if I used them, some knucklehead would use them against this brother.<br /><br />There are a lot of whites who never have spent any true significant time inside black society, so they have no concept of how we think, much less why we think what we think. Some, probably don't think we think. But ultimately I can't be concerned with that level of ignorance.<br /><br />I know it's there, but who has the time to go there?<br /><br />The fact is, as black folk, most of us probably know considerably more about whites than they do about us. Shoot, we had to climb mountains to get a damned month (Black History Month), and is it a coincidence that it's the year's shortest? Hell, if I know.<br /><br />But as Arsenio Hall used to say, it's one of those things that make you say, "Hmmm."<br /><br />I could write all day about race and the word Nigger (yeah, I said it.) I don't know about other black folk, but one of my first thoughts about white society and the word Nigger was, "Damn, you want to take the word away from us? What, as a race we haven't given up enough? Now you're snatching words? Kiss my ass. There are three words for you. You want those, too? They are all yours."<br /><br />It's important to realize, I grew up in the '60's and '70's. One of the first albums (for you young folk, DJ's use them to scratch and the discs were precursors to today's CD's)I bought in my life (1970) was by The Last Poets.<br /><br />It featured cuts such as, "When the revolution comes"; "New York, New York, the big apple"; "Wake up, Niggers"; "Run, Nigger"; "Niggers are scared of revolution"; "Black Thighs"; and On the Subway."<br /><br />The Last Poets were rappers before the legendary Sugar Hill Gang. I was a music major, a vocal major who sang in Borough-Wide and All-City Chorus back in the day. At the same time I was listening to the spoken word, I was singing, listening and trying to play songs with music by Bach and Beethoven.<br /><br />At the same time, I was reading newspapers distributed by the Black Panther Party and Muhammad Speaks, which was written by members of a group often called the 'Black Muslims.'<br /><br />My high school, Andrew Jackson (now Campus Magnet) was undergoing a radical racial population shift. There were race riots and days off because of bomb threats supposedly made by a group called 'the Weathermen.' They were an offshoot of what was described as a radical group called Students for a Democratic America.<br /><br />My exposures were diverse and unique. I had black friends like Bernard Kellam, Lennie Carlisle, the late Ronald Heyward, one of the best athletes and alto sax players I've ever seen and heard). Then were my friends friends like Seth Figman and David (Bobo) Berlinsky. There were days when I'd sport yarmulkes in solidarity with their Jewish heritage.<br /><br />I had friends like Cardlin Martin and Michael Kornegay, who got caught up and used heroin, and Leon and Gregory Guthrie, whose pops moved the family from our block on 193rd Street in St. Albans to North Carolina, so they didn't caught up.<br /><br />Cardlin Martin's father was a black man from St. Louis, who was another father figure for me, even though my pops was right there. Martin's mother was white, born in France, I believe and a sweet, sweet woman. I spent the night over their house on weekends almost as much as I lived at home.<br /><br />Cardlin was confused as hell, but brighter than bright and was my Dr. Doolittle. The guy had a talent and love of animals and should have become a veterinarian. However, he has spent much of his life in prison. I don't know if he's dead or alive.<br /><br />All of this to say, there are many experiences and exposures that shape us and make us who we are.<br /><br />And if I want to call my friends, my Niggers, or my Niggas, that's what I'm gonna do. And nobody, certainly not this Ben Ferguson fraud or Ben Carson or Bennie and the Jets is going to change that. And whether it has 'ers' or 'as' or 'az' at the end doesn't mean a damned thing to me.<br /><br />It's not the word, it is the feeling and the sentiment behind the word. Just like all the rest of the words.<br /><br />And if I have one word of advice for white folk, don't ever call an African-American, Nigger.<br /><br />That's our word, whether some people like it or not. Nigger, Nigger, Nigger, Nigger. Nigger.<br /><br />Yeah I said it again. RIP Mr. Pryor.<br /><br />Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-65407117880972770642015-02-08T11:04:00.001-08:002015-02-08T12:28:17.175-08:00Dean Smith: A great amongst greatnessMarty Mac’s World When former University of North Carolina coach Dean Smith passed away Saturday night at the age of 83, the world lost a true legend. Unquestionably, Smith was an innovative coach. His use of the four-corners offense was a stroke of genius made famous when Phil Ford handled the ball and used his quickness, speed and dribbling ability to terrorize defenses and create shots for teammates. Smith’s teams were incredibly disciplined and just as classy. I can not remember the North Carolina team under Smith ever getting into a scrap with another team. However, in the 60’s, blacks were ignored, overlooked, disrespected and refused opportunities to play in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The ACC was a pillar of racism, but Smith would have none of it. It came honestly. The New York Times reported Smith’s father, Alfred, put Paul Terry, a black player on the 1933-34 state championship winning high school team, even though Kansas state officials refused to allow Terry to play in the tournament. Perhaps my first knowledge of Smith was his decision to make Charlie Scott, a kid from Harlem, who attended the prestigious New York City Stuyvesant High School before going to Laurinberg Prep in North Carolina, the first black scholarship player at North Carolina. As a kid approaching his teenage years, it was impactful for me to see Scott, the lone African-American player dominating amongst a sea of whites. Scott was a star and helped lead the Tar Heels to a couple of Final Four appearances, but never truly received the accolades his play deserved. There was one season when Scott likely should have been the ACC player of the year, but lost out to John Roche, an excellent white player at South Carolina. It wasn’t so much that Roche got the nod, but five writers refused to vote for Scott, clearly one of the country’s best players. It has been reported Smith, upon learning of the approach taken by the writers, went directly to them and chastised them for the bigotry that led to the decision and said such mentality had to change. Now, that was approximately 50 years ago, so clearly Smith was ahead of his time. Smith, a couple years later recruited another star from New York, forward Bill Chamberlain, from Long Island Lutheran. There weren’t many black students at his high school, so he was somewhat prepared to be one of the few African-Americans in yet another situation. Smith was fearless in his quest to lead North Carolina to NCAA prominence, so bringing Chamberlain into the fold helped made it comfortable for other coaches to recruit black players. Smith never proclaimed superiority of humanity. He only lived a level of sensitivity that few of us can approach. I was fortunate enough to cover a few North Carolina games and Smith always was beyond respectful and accepting. The man was all class. While entering the predominantly white sports journalism field, it always became apparent to me, which coaches seemed to go out of their way to make a then neophyte reporter feel comfortable. The coaching names that came to mind early in my career were Georgetown’s John Thompson (who maybe not so coincidentally enjoyed a tremendous relationship with Smith), then Tulsa coach Nolan Richardson, former St. John’s coach Lou Carnesecca, TV commentator and former Seton Hall coach Bill Raftery and Smith. Perhaps the most impressive testimonials were ones that weren’t intentionally provided. Conversations with former Smith players such as Michael Jordan, Sam Perkins, Kenny Smith and Adrian Dantley, who played on the Dean Smith-coached 1976 gold-medal winning U.S. Olympic team, revealed a warm, honest respectful reverence for a man who seemed to live life as only a champion would. Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-28021443222480974472014-08-19T12:58:00.004-07:002014-08-19T12:58:58.018-07:00Kings take back seat to Ferguson Aug. 19, 2014 I’m a firm believer that things happen the way they should when they should and really we have little to no control over how. Monday, I spent much of the day working on a few things but mostly it seems as if at least an equal time was spent listening to folks explain how I needed to blog and why it was important for me to do so. Different folks of different genders and backgrounds and careers and jobs with seemingly no common agendas as it pertained to me other than harassing me about blogging or communicating as the case may be. So it was a day when Pierce Welch explained that he was going to an Oak Park outing under the name “Indivizible,” billed as an African-American assembly”. My man Brian Bedford had opened my eyes to the concept a couple of months ago, but I’d slept on attending until Monday. When I decided to go, I was unaware the speaker would be author and entrepreneur John Hope Bryant, who grabbed the terms powerful, poignant and relevant and made them his when he touched the crowd at The Guild in Oak Park. Nor did I know Mayor Johnson would bring in Dr. Claybon Lea, Jr., a pastor from Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Faifield. And I didn’t know Dr. Lea was Pierce Welch’s cousin. Welch and I were supposed to go to the gathering together but a communication gaffe prevented that from happening. And Welch didn’t know Dr. Lea would be there until Mayor Johnson introduced him. When I approached the theatre, immediately I saw Mayor Johnson walking inside and then brother Larry Lee from the Sacramento Observer. Quickly, there was a feeling this would be a different night. I’d already planned to blog about the Kings and how they’d made more than a few moves this summer I viewed as questionable. Omri Casspi’s name came to mind immediately. Yet, the Kings quickly took a back seat on this night when topics such as Michael Brown and Ferguson, Mo., and the images of impact brought to mind by the words of Bryant and the pictures of CNN. The situation in Ferguson is so overwhelming it is almost beyond belief. We have an unarmed 18-year-old with no previous record walking down the street during the late Saturday morning hours suddenly murdered by a policeman. We come to find out the policeman is white, the 18-year-old is black and the town of Ferguson (which I’d never heard of before last week) is predominantly black, while the police force is predominantly white. What roles any or all of those factors played in the situation’s outcome no one truly knows. We all can speculate. I just know the Ferguson deal became even more real when I was told that one of my son’s better friends currently is working on a house in the same neighborhood of the killing and the subsequent turmoil. The fact that I was an 18-year-old African-American male and that my now 23-year-old African-American male son walks around the neighborhood going from point A to point B adds relevance to the story. The fact my son’s friend who is working in Ferguson is white also clouds the situation because who knows how all of this is affecting him. It makes me wonder if whites ever wonder or imagine what it is like to be black and vice versa. Hands up – Don’t shoot. I'd never heard the phrase before the past couple of weeks. However, I’ll never forget its significance. Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-41728838549973518312014-05-30T09:12:00.003-07:002014-05-30T09:12:38.927-07:00The night of Brandon Gonzales' lifeMay 30, 2014 Super middleweight Brandon Gonzales can't envision losing Saturday night against James DeGale. The fighters will meet in front of an expected crowd of 80,000 at London's Wembley Stadium on the undercard of an title fight between Carl Froch and George Groves. Why would Gonzales (18-0-1, 11 KO's) consider losing? As his professional record attests, Gonzales never has experienced defeat. The winner of Gonzales-DeGale in the IBF World Super Middleweight title eliminator bout is expected to face the winner of Froch-Groves. Gonzales, who lives in Sacramento and operates the Flawless Boxing and Fitness gym on T street in downtown Sacramento, has the opportunity against DeGale to put himself in line for a long-awaited title shot. Boxing is one of the world's toughest professions. When boxers train and/or practice to improve in their craft, they can take punishment sparring on a daily basis. Few people go to work and put their bodies and faces on their line every day. Gonzales spars with former Olympic gold medalist Andre Ward, now viewed as one of the sport's best boxers. Gonzales is trained by Virgil Hunter, considered to be one of the world's best. "I've been working with Virgil for the past three years and I've known him for almost a decade," Gonzales said. "I've always wanted to work with him but we couldn't work it out schedule-wise." Gonzales said he and many others believed he defeated Thomas Oosthuizen in the one draw on his record. However, we all know boxing is a crazy sport where questionable scoring is prevalent. Gonzales is considered the underdog when fighting in London against the hometown DeGale (18-1, 12 KO's). Gonzales switched promoters recently from Terry and Tommy Lane, the sons of longtime referee Mills Lane. Gonzales changed promoters to Gary Shaw and Antonio Leonard because he believed Shaw and Leonard could put him in position for a title shot. And Saturday night in London, it will be on Gonzales' fists to take the next step toward a title with a victory over DeGale. The Froch-Groves bout can be seen on HBO Saturday. Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-57299678999852373362013-12-11T11:13:00.001-08:002013-12-11T11:13:29.285-08:00Predicting the future is one of the most difficult things to do in sports. And that’s doing so with all types of information at hand. So you look at the 2013-14 Sacramento Kings and recognize the team is undergoing a mini-makeover on the fly. Owner Vivek Ranadive, advisor Chris Mullin and general manager Pete D’Alessandro are attempting to remake the squad with quickness. Mullin and D’Alessandro couldn’t bring in Rudy Gay, Quincy Acy, Aaron Gray and Derrick Williams without Ranadive’s resources and desire. Just Monday night we saw the best Williams has to offer. He scored a career-high 31 points on 12 of 16 field-goal shooting (three of five from three-point range). Moreover, Williams had a career-high five steals in a 35-minute performance during a victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Dallas, by the way, had won 15 of its previous 16 games against Sacramento. Now it would be foolish for us to expect Williams to consistently perform at such a high level. However, the concept of combining the athleticism with that of Gay’s exceptional ability to run and jump looms as the mark of an entirely new type of Kings. Yes, as Ranadive says, a new-era Kings. We’re talking about a first-year coach in Michael Malone with a relatively remade squad, including a key piece in Gay, who we’ve yet to see and it’s clear none of us, not even those running the joint, know what we’re about to see. The easiest change to make was the insertion of Isaiah Thomas into the starting lineup. The five-foot-nine point guard clearly has the talent, will and skill to be a player of impact. Before the recent acquisitions, the Kings were in the position of needing Thomas to perform at an extremely high level merely for a chance at victory. Thomas, as well as DeMarcus Cousins, appear in position to not feel they have to carry the weight of the world every game. The previously offense-challenged squad now has the potential to present threats at every starting position. It’ll be interesting to see how well Gay ad Williams perform together. The new NBA doesn’t command the need for a prototypical power forward. Neither of them fit that mold, but both can qualify as “stretch fours (power forwards). Look around the NBA. Virtually everything is wacky. The Kings (6-13) should not believe they are incapable of defeating any team. Yet, team-wide consistency, particularly at the defensive end, is what the Kings must establish. One Western Conference coach said he believes Cousins in the league’s best center. And that’s in a league where few centers perform as centers as we once knew them. The Kings will have to establish themselves the hard way. They are 4-8 at home. Following tonight’s home game against Utah, the Kings play seven of their next 10 games on the road. They’ll play those 10 games before the New Year. The Kings front-office likely has not made its final personnel move, but the immediate future should be interesting. It’s nice to see the Kings making moves that aren’t designed just to save a few bucks. Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-26247342593882140442012-11-09T10:22:00.003-08:002012-11-09T10:29:12.857-08:00Kings need to share the ball - NOW! It’s early in the NBA season, but not too early to be embarrassed. The Kings need to recognize right now they will not become winners playing like they are. The Kings are 30th in assists with 15.6 per game. That’s last in the league. That’s embarrassing. That statistic indicates a couple of factors. The most glaring indicator is that the Kings stink at moving the ball and hitting the open man. Some, if not all of their coaches believe the players are playing selfishly. Ranking last in assists suggests they don’t understand that sharing the ball is the gateway to offensive success, easier shot attempts, more pressure on opposing defenses. Moreover, if the Kings want to have individual success, acclaim and respect, it will come by playing as a team. Head coach Keith Smart points to the number of open shots his players are missing. There is a modicum of truth there. However, too many of those shots are off balance or forced. These often are attempts that can be improved by exhibiting more patience and faith that the next man will make the shot. Sacramento is tied with Detroit at 24th in scoring at 92.8. The Kings are 5th in field-goal attempts at 87.6 per game, but rank 25th in field-goal percentage at .411. Hitting the open man is a selfless concept the Kings soon need to make part of their repertoire. It’s more contagious than the flu. And it has to start with their primary scorers. DeMarcus Cousins, Marcus Thornton and Tyreke Evans are most prominent when it comes to forcing shots. Each consistently draws a lot of defensive attention and can make plays for others. They have shown the ability and desire to do so. Now they do it more often. And to say players are performing selfishly does not mean they are selfish. Yes, there is some of that, but to me it’s more of a sign, that they don’t see the big picture. They don’t truly trust their brothers. Until they do, offensive mediocrity will be their calling card. Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-72246369998779283652012-11-07T11:39:00.001-08:002012-11-07T11:39:59.929-08:00Kings defend as team, play offense as individuals Four games into the 2012-13 NBA season, we can at least say, the Kings are defending with unity, intent and focus. It has been years – perhaps back to the 2002-03 team led by Chris Webber, Vlade Divac, Doug Christie, Bobby Jackson, Jimmy Jackson, Keon Clark and Scot Pollard – since we could look at Kings team and say they gave a freak about truly defending as a team. However, head coach Keith Smart made defending the main priority for his squad. With the help of assistant coaches Alex English, Clifford Ray, Bobby Jackson and Jim Eyen, the Kings have begun to defend as a team. That is the only way for an NBA team to have defensive success. Rarely does an individual slow a top scorer. NBA scorers are too good for that to happen on a nightly basis. It’s always easy to pick out weaknesses. However, the Kings, at this early juncture, have shown the desire and dedication to limit penetration, the disease of all defenses... The Kings have challenged a higher percentage of field-goal attempts. Their increased athleticism has led to the NBA’s lowest percentage of made three-pointers by their opponents. Sacramento’s .defensive field-goal percentage against is second in the league. Before you say it’s just four games into the season, consider their percentage could be second to worst. Only Indiana has scored more than 93 points and its 106 came during a double-overtime victory. The Kings are playing hard and that’s nothing at which to sneeze. Now, all teams have strengths and weaknesses and struggles (see: Lakers and the Thunder. The Kings offense is ugly. Sacramento has yet to score 100 points. Sacramento often has little ball movement, patience or creativity. Certainly, the ability to make shots would make things look better. But Sacramento’s poor shot selection leads to poor shooting. Smart said the team has not yet worked consistently on its offense. Well, it would be even worse had this product been the effects of offensive focus. Ultimately, teams, particularly those without a star to lead them, usually need to have five or six players scoring at a consistently high level. The Kings are no exception if they want nightly success. Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-43282092472180347632012-03-30T17:08:00.006-07:002012-04-05T11:45:27.743-07:00On and off the Kings court, questions aboundOne by one, opposing teams come into Power Balance Arena (it is still Arco to me) with personnel believing Sacramento's new arena is a done deal.<br /><br />That's what reports would lead many folks to believe.<br /><br />I'm not one of those folks - yet. <br /><br />First, there is no construction underway on this new facility. That dirt turning would go a long way towards passing the eye test.<br /><br />Now, during this economic state, we've seen many a project start and then stop. So even the dirt flip wouldn't be the final step.<br /><br />Granted, the planned constuction has come a long way from one year ago when most signs pointed to the Kings moving to Southern California or somewhere else.<br /><br />So, things remain in a positive condition for a person like myself who believes a new facility will do wonders for downtown economic growth.<br /><br />There are no guarantees, of course, but virtually all recently built sports facilities have inspired financial growth in the surrounding neighborhood.<br /><br />Admittedly, I'm a cynic. Thst's fueled by 34 years in the journalism world with people telling untruths as part of their jobs.<br /><br />Yet, the major reason for my cynicism on this project are the numbers of entities/people with their hands in the facility stew.<br /><br />Mayor Kevin Johnson, the Sacramento City Council, the Maloof family, the AEG corporation that will operate the arena, NBA commissioner David Stern and perhaps, most importantly, their respective legal representatives.<br /><br />If it was just one entity putting up the cash and another responsible for construction and arena operation, there would be fewer potential obstacles.<br /><br />It's not like that here, though, and I still believe there are many egos to subjugate before this facility becomes reality.<br /><br />It'a clear trust is not running amuck between all parties concerned. It'll be interesting to see if these folk can get their collective heads together.<br /><br />And it wont be too long before Stern takes a more public, prominent role. Stern usually attempts to avoid embarrassment at all costs, particularly when it is pointed in his direction.<br /><br />Currently, embarrassment is circling Sacramento, the Maloofs and the NBA like a group of hungry buzzards.Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-78415293990087508342012-03-22T08:34:00.007-07:002012-03-22T12:18:34.613-07:00There was none better than Lacy Banks - RIPWe lost a champion Wednesday when former Chicago Sun-Times writer Reverend Lacy J. Banks died.<br /><br />Banks, 68, battled prostate cancer, a brain tumor and heart disease over the past few years.<br /><br />However, nothing could steal his spirit. Not even the fact that few blacks covering sports, particularly major beats, when he hooked up with the Sun-Times in 1972.<br /><br />He'd greet you - everyone, that is - with a smile that clearly came from the joy in his heart.<br /><br />Banks was a minister, which separated him immediately from a heathen like myself.<br /><br />He never attempted to pressure me to look towards his beliefs. He could put down a persuasive argument on any subject, but rarely did he try to work me.<br /><br />That is, after the first time we met.<br /><br />That was way back. I'm guessing it was the 1986-87 NBA season. We were in the old Chicago Stadium, the arena that preceded the current-day United Center.<br /><br />I was covering the Dallas Mavericks while Rev. Banks was covering da Bulls.<br /><br />I believe it was the third quarter when this young dude - Michael Jordan - goes down with a sprained ankle and writhes around in pain on the floor.<br /><br />I was on deadline, which rapidly was approaching while MJ flopped on the court.<br /><br />So I say out loud to anyone who can hear, "Yo, I don't care who this dude is. Either help him on his feet or get him a stretcher and take his ass off the floor."<br /><br />Immediately, Reverend Banks says across the hockey press box where reporters sat for games, "My brother, my brother," speaking to me although we'd never met.<br /><br />"That brother laying on the court is the future of the NBA," Banks said of Jordan. "So let him lay there until he's ready to get up." <br /><br />It didn't make a difference to Banks that he didn't know me. He delivered his message with a smile.<br /><br />I'd been aware of Jordan's talents since before his freshman year at Carolina, thanks to Mark Gonzales, now covering the Chicago White Sox for the Tribune.<br /><br />So I knew he was a bad boy long before most, thanks to Gonzales, whom I'm sure remains a Carolina freak.<br /><br />However, Banks' portrayal of Jordan as "the future of league" couldn't have been more accurate.<br /><br />Remember, this was four seasons before the Bulls' first championship and long before observers began referring to Jordan as the greatest in NBA history.<br /><br />I recounted that story long time ago for Boston Herald reporter Steve Bulpett and every time we saw each other, including last Friday, Bulpett would say, 'Give me a little Lacy.' and I'd know what he meant.<br /><br />Just Tuesday, for some reason, I was telling the story in the company of NBA.com columnist Scott Howard-Cooper and Memphis Commercial-Appeal beat writer Ron Tillery.<br /><br />A day later, Brother Banks is gone.<br /><br />If I had it like that, I'd get a comment from Jordan. I'd love to hear his recollections. Banks actually watched him grow up, whether Jordan would admit or not.<br /><br />And when you cover a team daily, a reporter gets as close as a player lets him. Jordan used to love talking trash to Banks, perhaps if only to show he didn't just like to go at defenders.<br /><br />It was all love, if I can speak for MJ.<br /><br />I've been trying to think of someone who was more loved than Banks.<br /><br />I'm still thinking.<br /><br />Jordan's got his championships, but he's no more a champ than Reverend Lacy J. Banks ever was.Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-25460229230947065242012-03-20T11:14:00.007-07:002012-03-20T15:27:12.438-07:00Ego, idiocy mar Mullin jersey retirement in OaktownHad to check out Monday night's Chris Mullin Golden State Warriors jersey retirement ceremony in Oakland.<br /><br />I've been watching the mercurial, soulful lefty since his pre-St. John's University days on jaunts through Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens.<br /><br />And those experiences provided quite a few indelible memories.<br /><br />Yet, nothing prepared me for the amazingly, shocking, rude, disrespectful behavior exhibited by a large portion of the sellout crowd at Oracle Arena.<br /><br />Allegedly, those folks were there, in part, to celebrate the classy and determined excellence nightly displayed by Mullin.<br /><br />Instead, some morons used the occasion to boo Golden State majority owner Joe Lacob during the ceremony.<br /><br />Eventually, Mullin and former W's great Rick Barry had to come onto the floor and attempt to calm the restless natives.<br /><br />For a little perspective, back in the day, Mullin was playing in a tournament I was covering at New York's Madison Square Boys Club. His teammates were some of the best high-school hoopers had to offer. One was Easy Ed Pinckney, who went on to help engineer Villanova's 1985 national championship victory over highly-favored Georgetown and then an 11-year NBA career.<br /><br />Pinckney, now a Chicago Bulls assistant coach, along with Freddy Brown (later of Georgetown University) and a solid defensive small forward named Clarence Moss all played for the public school champion squad Stevenson.<br /><br />Mullin and Pinckney's squad was doing work, as usual, but throughout the game, Moss was engaged in conversation with some one in the stands. It didn't seem to be a big thing. During games in NYC (and many other locales at various venues, it's common place for people in the stands to talk trash.<br /><br />It's not common place to see Moss run up in the stands, deliver a karate kick to the body of the trash-talker. Moss came right back on the court and tried to keep hooping until the referees stopped him.<br /><br />It's still one of the funniest, most surprising things I've ever seen in life.<br /><br />Yet, the Oracle Boo Squad attacking Lacob was even more shocking because it came out of nowhere. Did the crowd boo because the Warriors last week traded Monta Ellis? Did they boo Lacob because upon buying the team he proclaimed they'd make the playoffs - this season?<br /><br />Did they boo because the Warriors have made just one playoff appearance in 18 seasons?<br /><br />Did they boo because they are idiots and didn't care that they were dogging Mullin's night more so than going at Lacob?<br /><br />The owner clearly is a bit egotistical and couldn't understand that he did his job by retiring the jersey. He should have just sat there.<br /><br />The Warriors main representative should have been Al Attles, who has been with the organization for 50 years.<br /><br />The organizers never should have allowed Lacob to take the floor, particularly not toward the end of the festivities.<br /><br />Shoot, they'd have been better off having me pump up Mullin. I covered the kid at his first press conference with the W's. I've been with him off and on throughout his adult life. I knew his late pops and moms, one of the world's sweetest ladies.<br /><br />I watched him hurt his knee in the first round in the 1991 upset of the San Antonio Spurs, miss the first game of the second round against the Los Angeles Lakers and then make something like his first 15 or 16 shots (nearly all jumpers) en route to a 41-point road performance.<br /><br />Golden State, unfortunately, will look back on the retirement ceremony remembering the portion that bombed so hard, Barry, who is in the Hard-To-Get-Along-With Hall of Fame, felt moved to come to Lacob's aid.Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-29616877129653305522012-01-03T12:24:00.000-08:002012-01-03T16:16:14.480-08:00Cousins-Westphal combo needs Divorce CourtJan. 2, 2012<br /><br />If Kings coach Paul Westphal and his young center DeMarcus Cousins were married, it would be time for a divorce.<br /><br />Since they aren't married, maybe it's time for Cousins to be traded or Westphal to go - or both.<br /><br />Better players than Cousins have been traded and better coaches than Westphal have been fired.<br /><br />Clearly the grounds exist for a quick separation on the grounds of irreconcilable differences.<br /><br />Even Rodney King would agree, "We all can't get along."<br /><br />It's one thing to be in love with each other, but that doesn't mean you can live comfortably with each other.<br /><br />They've each basically accused each other of lying. Westphal said, in an unusual press release, that Cousins twice demanded to be traded. Cousins denies that.<br /><br />I found it interesting that the coach used the word, 'demanded', as opposed to 'requested' or 'asked.'<br /><br />Westphal knew that particular word usage would put Cousins, 21, in a terrible light. Now, if Westphal was being direct and accurate in his assessment of what Cousins said, so be it.<br /><br />Westphal says Cousins first said he wanted to be traded on Dec. 24. That day there should have been a meeting between management, Westphal, Cousins and his agent, John Greig.<br /><br />That's before the season's first game.<br /><br />I've been covering the NBA since 1978, 12 years before Cousins was born and six years after Westphal's rookie season with the Boston Celtics.<br /><br />I've seen two players (together) on a championship-contending team walk, not knowing a reporter was there, into a coach's office after a game and tell him they wanted to be traded to his team.<br /><br />Granted, the times of today have changed over the years. The NBA is comprised of much younger and lesser-prepared players.<br /><br />Cousins is legally an adult, but two years ago, homeboy was in high school. In terms of being capable of merging his physical and mental components, I dont' see it, yet. Nor should he be, considering his basketball inexperience.<br /><br />He's got to learn his craft during on-the-job training. And there is no way I believe Westphal knew what he really was in for when the Kings decided to draft Cousins.<br /><br />Cousins' inability to get along with some authority figures in high school, one year of college and one year of NBA action have been well-documented.<br /><br />Yet, Westphal has his own history with stubborn, forceful and talented performers as Gary Payton and former Kings guard Vernon Maxwell.<br /><br />During the past few days, it has been suggested the coach may be incapable of mentally reaching these young players of today.<br /><br />If that's true, it wouldn't be the first time. And not just for Westphal.<br /><br />Sometimes I feel incapable of truly reaching my son, two months younger and 14 inches shorter than Cousins.<br /><br />Kings President Geoff Petrie said Tuesday he wouldn't truly divulge every one of his thoughts when it was suggested the best move for all would be divorce court.<br /><br />"If I was to believe that or say that...," he said, "what we're trying to do is put this thing together and make it work."<br /><br />Greig, of course, is supportive of his client and said Tuesday Cousins has been unfairly singled out.<br /><br />The situation that led to Cousins missing Sunday evening's victory over New Orleans began after Saturday night's loss to the New York Knicks. The agent said Westphal called Cousins 'selfish' and said he was the team's problem.<br /><br />Clearly, Cousins is a problem, not 'the' problem.<br /><br />Cousins later went into the coach's office, Greig said, and asked Westphal why he singled him out.<br /><br />Greig said Westphal told Cousins, "I don't have time to talk to you about this."<br /><br />If all this is true, it speaks to why these two need to be separated permanently.<br /><br />And a Happy New Year to you.Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-4069631887200316212011-12-26T12:26:00.000-08:002011-12-29T13:08:10.218-08:00Everyone has to wait to see who these Kings areDec. 28, 2011<br /><br />Predicting what to expect from the Sacramento Kings at this juncture of an abbreviated NBA season is a sucker's fantasy.<br /><br />An improved product is not too much to expect from a young, talented squad led by head coach Paul Westphal. The Kings finished the 2010-11 season with a 24-68 record for a .293 winning percentage.<br /><br />Westphal admits he doesn't know what to expect from his young squad. His assistant coaches say the team has worked and played hard, but how that translates to the regular season is an unknown.<br /><br />Initially, the Kings have to create an identity. Who are they? On what are they going to hang their hats? They talk of establishing a defensive focus, but that comes possession by possession, not sentence by sentence.<br /><br />Heading into tonight's home game against the Chicago Bulls, the Kings (1-1) have shown that improved defensive focus. Actually, the Kings scrambled offense againat Portland Tuesday night consistently put the defense into a trick bag.<br /><br />Certainly, the re-acquisition of veteran strongman and leader Chuck Hayes has helped.<br /><br />Hayes brings an understanding of the game's nuances. He has a willingness and know-how to do all the little things most young players will not.<br /><br />Kings center/forward DeMarcus Cousins said before Hayes had returned that the veteran had begun to support the defense by talking and helping the younger players recognize the need for improved communication.<br /><br />As much as defense represents an individual devotion to slow your personal assignment, ultimately it's about a team-wide ability and commitment to protect the basket and contest shots.<br /><br />Currently, the Kings have shown they'll play hard. Now, can a young team also play smart? One without the other breeds inconsistency.<br /><br />Westphal said Wednesday his team's offensive woes stemmed from a lack of patience and a failure to execute the offense's second and third options. It seems simple to move the ball from one side of the floor to other.<br /><br />However, teams, not only the Kings, consistently fall prey to defensive pressure early in the possession and quickly jack up shots. Good offenses make opposing defenses work to guard.<br /><br />Yes, the Kings are virtual neophytes, but back when Sacramento was hanging out atop the Western Conference and had one of the league's most potent offenses, former coach Rick Adelmsn's major lament was his team's offensive impatience and unwillingness to move the ball from side to side.<br /><br />That was a veteran crew known for its team-wide ball movement. Today's edition is exactly the opposite - young and without an established offensive presence.<br /><br />These Kings, like their predecessors, play without a traditional pass-first point guard. The two starting guards, Tyreke Evans and Marcus Thornton, are more scorers than playmakers.<br /><br />However, more of the league's teams have gone that route in recent years. There is more than one way to run an offensive attack.<br /><br />In order for the Kings to quickly approach their potential, moving the ball to the open man must become an offensive staple. Everybody can get their shots - and good ones, at that - without selfish play.Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-53054692894697481062011-12-20T11:05:00.000-08:002011-12-20T15:33:03.865-08:00It's more than preseason game at the No-Name ArenaDec. 20, 2011<br /><br />The Sacramento Kings meet the visiting Golden State Warriors tonight at the No-Name Arena, also formerly known as Arco Arena and never truly known as Power Balance Pavilion.<br /><br />Yet, the lone Kings' preseason home game likely will be different than any other. This will be the first time Kings fans return to the No-Name Arena since many of them left following the final home game of the 2010-11 season believing the franchise was headed to Anaheim.<br /><br />Thanks to the efforts of many, including Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, the City is attempting to land financing for the construction of a new downtown arena to house the Kings.<br /><br />That proposition remains a work in progress. However, the Kings are here for the moment and their fan base likely will be highly enthusiastic (read: wild as hell) for tonight's contest as well as next Monday's season and home opener against the Los Angeles Lakers.<br /><br />The Kings are attempting to fast-forward the compilation of their team in the midst of the makeshift post-lockout training camp and preseason.<br /><br />Sacramento's plans took a major hit this week when free-agent signee Chuck Hayes failed his physical due to a heart abnormality. The Kings subsequently voided his reported four-year/$21 million contract.<br /><br />Said President Geoff Petrie, "(Monday) morning, in one of the most heartbreaking moments of my professional or personal life, Chuck Hayes was notified that he failed his physical exam with the Sacramento Kings. Subsequent to that, the contract signed on Dec. 9 has been voided. At Chuck's request, we will have no further comment at this time."<br /><br />Management informed the team of the situation following Monday afternoon's practice. Coach Paul Westphal's eyes displayed the hurt he felt by the loss of more than just another player.<br /><br />Hayes, a beast of a man at 6-foot-6, 238 pounds, was expected to bring mental and physical toughness as he had for six seasons with the Houston Rockets. Hayes already had taken a leadership role during his brief time with the Kings.<br /><br />Westphal said, 'Hayes already had established himself as what you are looking for a man who would give everything of himself for the team and of himself.<br /><br />The Kings likely will pursue free-agent center Samuel Dalembert in hopes of having him rejoin the crew and provide support in the middle. Suffice to say acquiring Dalembert has become more important and costly with Hayes' inability to play.<br /><br />Most importantly, Hayes, who had signed the most lucrative deal of his career, now has neither the contract nor a job. Now, he has the questions of how to deal with the heart abnormality and an uncertain athletic future.<br /><br />All that in a week. Let's hope this serves as a massive lesson to a group of primarily young group of young Kings how fragile their careers and lives are.<br /><br />Most of the Kings are so young, they did not get the opportunity to play with former Kings shooter extraordinaire Peja Stojakovic.<br /><br />Stojakovic retired Monday primarily because of back and neck problems at 34. He'd still be, if healthy, the best shooter on most teams.<br /><br />Stojakovic answered his phone Monday and said, "I feel good physically and about my decision."<br /><br />He and his family are living in New Orleans, "because the kids really like the area and we're comfortable here."<br /><br />Stojakovic easily was one of the easiest guys to cover during my stints working the league. He was honest and always available for a comment. As a journalist, one can't ask for more.<br /><br />Jimmer Fredette looks capable of one day challenging Stojakovic, Eddie Johnson, Jerry Lucas and Oscar Robertson as one of the Kings' best shooters. What an immediate review of Fredette's game shows is a need to stop leaving his feet 35-to-40 from the basket.<br /><br />Fredette appears to be the real deal because of his shooting prowess, ballhandling and toughness. We'll see.<br /><br />Westphal said Monday rookie guards Fredette and Isaiah Thomas are two of the more heady players on the team.<br /><br />High praise for two players a week into their professional careers.Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-29540310200057200402011-12-09T11:22:00.001-08:002011-12-09T11:35:41.067-08:00NBA Comissioner Stern goes too far: Time to goDec. 9, 2011<br /><br />NBA Commissioner David Stern’s ludicrous decision to veto Thursday’s three-team trade between New Orleans, the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets is the most bodacious, outrageous, egotistical and ridiculous move in league’s history.<br /><br />It’s time for Stern to say goodbye. Retire. He’s always ruled with a heavy hand. He’s always been as close to a bully as a brilliant strategist. He’ll probably go down as the best league leader in professional sports.<br /><br />But for a New York City native, this smacks of stuff we’d hear about the Mafia. It’s like this the National Basketball Association of David Stern.<br /><br />It’s time to see and hear Stern say, “I was wrong.”<br /><br />This decision was so unfair in many different ways.All-Star point guard Chris Paul was slated to join the Lakers. L.A. would have sent all-star power forward Pau Gasol to Houston and valuable sixth man Lamar Odom was headed to New Orleans.<br /><br />The Hornets also would have received guard Kevin Martin, forward Luis Scola, guard Goran Dragic and a 2012 first-round draft choice Houston had acquired from the New York Knicks.<br /><br />The league said the trade was knocked down because of ‘basketball reasons.”<br /><br />Presumably, that’s opposed to volleyball or curling reasons. That’s it? Basketball reasons?<br /><br />No one knows what that means, but there have been perhaps 100(conservative estimate) worse trades consummated in the league’s history. Shoot, maybe since the turn of the century.<br /><br />Certainly, when the NBA last season took control of New Orleans franchise ownership, the potential for all types of trouble became possible.<br /><br />The Hornets then were placed into a different category than every other franchise.<br /><br />The details of that arrangement between the league and Hornets are unknown to the general public.<br /><br />Moreover, who knows who knows, if anyone knows.<br /><br />Hornets general manager Dell Demps seemed to have made a pro-emptive strike to prevent Paul, who can become a free-agent following this season, from opting out of his deal and leaving the team with no compensation.<br /><br />It would seem the league told Demps he couldn’t do his job and did so, after he did his job well.<br /><br />Looking forward, one wonders where David Stern’s iron fist stops. There were rumors that small-market owners applied pressure on Stern to crush the deal.<br /><br />So is Demps now incapable of making a trade with any team or just a team Stern and/or the other owners OK.<br /><br />Stern said Paul was more valuable in New Orleans. Stern omitted to mention to whom this increased value belongs.Stern has made enough money over the years to shut it down, say goodbye and look back at how the league has grown under his management.<br /><br />Yo, my man, let it go. It’s time.<br /><br />From this view, it appears he’s lost it. At least, back in the day, he’d have couched his decision with a real explanation.<br /><br />Basketball reasons?<br /><br />Really, Dave?Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-38873315301685281002011-07-08T12:46:00.000-07:002011-07-09T00:56:32.875-07:00Maddbacker Celebrity Basketball GameOne of the most difficult tasks in today's sports environment is putting together a celebrity basketball game.<br /><br />Former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Adrian Ross continues to try to raise money for local Sacramento-area charity causes such as Shriners Hospital; The Center for Fathers and Families; Roberts Family Development Center and the True Grit Sports Academy.<br /><br />Ross, an Elk Grove High School graduate and San Jose native, is hosting his Maddbacker seventh celebrity contest July 9th at the Capital Christian Center beginning at 5 p.m.<br /><br />Tickets are $10 with all of the proceeds going towards helping the local charities and causes his Maddbacker Foundation supports.<br /><br />Quite naturally, Ross' NFL background suggests a heavily-weighted cast of hoopers from the football realm.<br /><br />NFL wide receivers and defensive backs often also performed at elite levels on the basketball court. Stevie Johnson of the Buffalo Bills and Lavelle Hawkins of the Tennessee Titans are expected to play as well as Arizona linebackers Joey Porter and Clark Haggans.<br /><br />Other NFLers who prepped in SacTown expected to display their hoop skills are Tampa Bay's Sammie Stroughter and Washington's Brandyn Thompson. Former NFL all-star running back Corey Dillon and offensive lineman Ephraim Salaam are slated to throw down.<br /><br />Ross said Miami Dolphins wide receiver Marlon Moore will enter the contest of the mindset to score 40 points. He'll also be going against former Florin High star and current filmaker/producer Deon Taylor and entertainers Rick Ross and BSmoove.<br /><br />Tickets can be purchased online at www.maddbackercelebritygame.com.Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-83911842518722887372011-04-17T18:26:00.000-07:002011-04-17T18:32:39.343-07:00Webber still hoping to help Kings stay in SacramentoSources indicate former Kings all-star forward Chris Webber was seen in Las Vegas talking with members of the Maloof family Saturday afternoon.<br /><br />Webber did not return a phone call this weekend.<br /><br />Amidst the madness and uncertainty of the Maloofs attempted Kings’ relocation to Anaheim, a meeting between Webber and family members could mean nothing, something or everything.<br /><br />Webber, now a TNT NBA commentator, last week surprised many with statements regarding his desire and attempts to assist the efforts to keep the Kings in Sacramento.<br /><br />Sources within the past month told Marty Mac’s World Webber had been working with a group that wanted to buy the Kings from the Maloofs.<br /><br />However, the Maloofs steadfastly have insisted the franchise is not for sale. Webber’s group was unable to get a meeting with the Maloofs.<br /><br />Clearly, there are more questions than answers regarding the attempted relocation. Following last week’s two-day NBA Board of Governors meeting Commissioner David Stern said the Kings deal had changed during the past few days.<br /><br />That’s why the league granted the Maloofs another extension – this time May 2 – to apply for the move to Anaheim.<br /><br />The NBA wants more information from the Anaheim group pursuing the Kings franchise as well from the Maloofs.<br /><br />Commissioner David Stern said NBA owners have an incomplete understanding of the deal. That means the owners, who ultimately must give their majority blessing to the move, have the same understanding as you and I.<br /><br />Stern indicated the league’s relocation group needed more information about potential TV revenue, any necessary upgrades to the Honda Center arena and relocation costs.<br /><br />We all know the Maloofs want to move the franchise to Anaheim. We assume they believe this move will reap increased financial benefits. The common belief is the Maloofs expect a great increase from a new TV contract in a larger market.<br /><br />The Maloofs have not spoken publicly about their business financial condition. If they indeed are struggling, any information of desperation only lessens any leverage they believe they possess.<br /><br />Reports during the past year have suggested they are in danger of losing control of the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.<br /><br />They have denied the accuracy of those reports.<br /><br />More indicative of their financial peril was the sale of their family-owned beer distributorship last year. Not only was it the foundation of their business portfolio, it was a prized possession because of ties to their father and grandfather.<br /><br />Moreover, if anyone owns a beer distributorship in America, why the heck would you sell it unless somehow pressured to make that move. Even in times of depression, beer consumers find a way to get their suds.<br /><br />I’ve been telling folks for months that no one truly knows the specifics of this deal. That’s because as big-time deals are concerned, this one is being thrown together.<br /><br />There have been people talking two months ago about how it was a done deal the Kings were leaving. Here we are in the middle of April and that remains an uncertainty.Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-7495875857934977502011-03-01T19:44:00.000-08:002011-03-01T19:59:09.219-08:00Bibby says Hawks did him dirty, but he's happy to go to HeatMike Bibby may not always say something but he is often an attentive listener and reader.<br /><br />So Tuesday as he made preparations to leave Atlanta Wednesday and sign with the Miami Heat, he paid attention to what the so-called experts said about him joining the high-profile squad.<br /><br />“I couldn’t pass it up,” the 32-year-old said of the opportunity to join Dwayne Wade, LeBron James and his brother-in-law, Heat guard Eddie House.<br /><br />Bibby said Boston and Portland had shown interest.<br /><br />Bibby normally plays with a chip on his shoulder. On the court, his confidence level borders arrogance as it does with most of the league’s clutch performers.<br /><br />After listening to pundits decry any positive effect he will have on the Heat, Bibby will be even more determined.<br /><br />“People told me I was too short and too slow when I came to the league,” he said. “13 years later, here I am. But you know me; I don’t care what nobody says.”<br /><br />That’s not exactly true.<br /><br />Bibby was not enthralled by the words Atlanta had to say the day he was traded to the Washington Wizards. Four days later, Bibby’s agent, David Falk, worked out a buyout <br /><br />“We were in Phoenix,” he said, “and I saw everybody in the organization that day. I think I deserved the respect to at least tell me they are working on something. They had me come to the team meeting and then one hour before the game, I get a call saying they’ve worked out a trade.<br /><br />“They said it’s 99 percent done, so don’t come to the game.”<br /><br />Bibby said he anticipates things will be different in Miami than they were in Atlanta.<br /><br />“I didn’t have the ball in my hands in Atlanta,” he said, “and that’s not saying I’m gonna have it in Miami. But I think things will be different.”Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-48446535328225609752011-03-01T14:00:00.000-08:002011-03-01T14:05:20.154-08:00KIngs more of a mess off the court than onPresumably, when Kings coach Paul Westphal asks you where you’ve been writing, that means your hiatus has been a bit pronounced.<br /><br />However, if you don’t feel it, then it’s better to wait until you do feel it, instead of just writing some garbage. As my man legendary funkster George Clinton says, “If you fake the funk, your nose will grow.”<br /><br />Thinking of Westphal and looking at how this season has unfolded for him, made me think of Detroit head coach John Kuester’s situation.<br /><br />As jacked up and uncertain as things are for the Kings, at least there have been no reports of boycotts and uprisings.<br /><br />On virtually every life level, whenever it seems as if things aren’t going your way, look around. There’s likely someone close by who has similar or worse problems.<br /><br />Kuester Monday received the dreaded support of Pistons President Joe Dumars. Often times, that’s a coach’s kiss of death. However, Kuester’s Pistons are 5 1//2 games out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and that’s close enough to keep him around until season’s end.<br /><br />There would be nothing served positively by replacing Kuester.<br /><br />As for Westphal, he and the Kings receive credit for being consistent. Sacramento is 8-22 at home and 7-21 on the road. Unfortunately, the Kings have been consistently poor.<br /><br />With 24 games remaining, there is plenty of time for improvement, individual and team.<br /><br />Forget not knowing whether the Kings will continue playing in Sacramento or be moved to Anaheim or elsewhere for that matter.<br /><br />From a team standpoint, the Kings have displayed the ability to effectively perform every facet of the game. It’s their inability to sustain a high level of efficiency that has left them with a 15-43 record.<br /><br />Yet, unlike those semi-experts such as Hall of Famer and TNT broadcaster Charles Barkley who believe the Kings talent is totally subpar, that’s not the case.<br /><br />Certainly, it’s not equal to the level of the league’s best, but the Kings have proven capable of competing.<br /><br />Many, if not most, of the Kings difficulties have been born from inexperience, immaturity and unfamiliarity.<br /><br />If you’ve listened to Westphal all season, his comments are so similar to those out of the mouths of other coaches whose teams lose close games.<br /><br />And these teams are far deeper and more experienced than the Kings, yet the methods of winning games are all the same. Teams have to protect their lane and basket. They have to consistently execute their offense.<br /><br />And perhaps most importantly, teams have to play with heart and ferocity. They have to take advantage of opportunities and minimize the opportunities they present to the opposition.<br /><br />Rookie DeMarcus Cousins has struggled since the All-Star break and that’s not highly surprising. Cousins is shooting 32 percent (16 of 50) from the field and averaging 5.5 turnovers during his past five games.<br /><br />No. 1, all players have their struggles. No.2 Cousins still hasn’t scratched the surface of learning his game.<br /><br />That’s before mentioning the 20-year-old still is trying to figure out who he is and what he truly wants to become. If you are older than 20, then you might be able to remember what those thoughts were then and how life has run its ever-unfolding misdirection plays.<br /><br />Look at Monday night’s starting lineup and only center Sameul Dalembert and guard Beno Udrih have a strong knowledge of their respective games and themselves. Hence, that’s hardly a logical prescription for nightly success.<br /><br />As the Maloof family and their plans, those appear far shakier than the team’s prospects. It seems to me as if the Maloofs don’t know what they are going to do.<br /><br />If they know they are going to relocate the team in Anaheim, the easiest and most humanistic thing to do is say that’s the deal.<br /><br />That’s more so for their employees if not just for their devoted and loyal fans, many of whom I’ve had the privilege of meeting and getting to know.<br /><br />Throughout my 13 years of dealing with them, I’ve always said the Maloofs are the most down-to-earth millionaire business folk I’ve met. Yet, what’s real is once the family decided to sell their Coors distributorship, that was a major sign their financial situation was approaching dire straits.<br /><br />From a bottom-line perspective, until prohibition hits, beer likely always will be consumed. So desperation had to factor into that decision.<br /><br />Moreover, that was their late father’s business – not something easily kicked to the curb.<br /><br />Not knowing the family’s financial standing, it’s impossible to truly know how the Maloofs will play their hand. Shoot, we don’t even know what cards they are holding.<br /><br />And I wonder if they do.Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-4857051199220753322011-01-08T05:13:00.000-08:002011-01-08T05:28:08.196-08:00Kings making moves to become relevantIt has taken nearly three months, but the Sacramento Kings have become worthy for time spent viewing.<br /><br />Actually, the Kings (8-25) only were unworthy of watching if you were looking for victories. Winning was the game’s feature they couldn’t decipher.<br /><br />Now, they’ve won three of their past four home games and with Thursday night’s 122-102 victory over the Denver Nuggets, Sacramento earned its first win over a plus-.500 team.<br /><br />Moreover, the Kings recently have begun to receive productive play from four, five and even six players. That was not happening a month ago and still isn’t something coach Paul Westphal can wake up in the morning and count upon.<br /><br />Really, though, counting upon major nightly, consistent production from five or six players only is a dream/fantasy for coaches on any level.<br /><br />Yet, when you are the Kings, it’s time to appreciate blessings. Seeing patience and nightly growth from DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans, ages 20 and 21, respectively, is a blessing.<br /><br />Surely, Evans has played a number of excellent games during his brief time as a King, but this performance was as complete as I’ve seen. His scoring (27 points) was timely and impactful and against solid defensive guards in Aaron Afflalo and Chauncey Billups.<br /><br />More importantly, Evans looked to make plays for his teammates. He had a season-high 12 assists, in part, because the Kings made a season-high 56.4 percent of their field-goal attempts.<br /><br />However, it also was because Evans made timely deliveries to give teammates layups, dunks and wide-open jumpers.<br /><br />Include five rebounds, two steals and only one turnover in more than 41 minutes and there is the type of performance Westphal needs to get his team on the right track.<br /><br />Cousins continues to show more poise and composure. His shot selection is improving and subsequently, his field-goal percentage rises.<br /><br />By the way, when you see Cousins get excited over referee’s calls, keep this in mind. He received a technical in the third quarter for his reaction over a non-call.<br /><br />He also heard Denver’s Carmelo Anthony threaten in front of an official to beat up Omri Casspi and go without a word.<br /><br />That’s the type of stuff NBA officials need to clear up. It’s one thing to give stars calls non-stars don’t receive. Yet, stars often are allowed to say things other players are not.<br /><br />All that does is give stars more belief they are untouchable and make others believe they are not getting a fair shake.<br /><br />Think Cousins needs to feel that anymore than he already does?<br /><br />Cousins, though, consistently reveals more facets of his skill set. It’s always important to remember he’s 20 years old.<br /><br />There are parts of Cousins’ game that barely have been touched. There are things he’ll soon learn he can do that he never imagined himself capable.<br /><br />That’s what growing up as a player and a person is about.<br /><br />Now, as a team, the Kings have to prove they take their show on the road. They begin a six-game East Coast road trip in Toronto.<br /><br />Certainly, it’s easier to play at home, but if Sacramento can use its longest trip of the season to display consistency of performance and focus, it can continue to improve.<br /><br />They’ll need continued production from Omri Casspi, Francisco Garcia, Beno Udrih, Pooh Jeter and Carl Landry.<br /><br />Samuel Dalembert and Jason Thompson need to continue pounding the boards to help the Kings continue to lead the league in second-chance points (16.4) per game.<br /><br />Dalembert wants the Kings to show him more time, but he’s got to show he can score consistently around the basket to earn that.<br /><br />No doubt he is a defensive impact guy, but missing six-footers is not the way to increase playing time.<br /><br />Side note: Dalembert’s decision to attend the recent funeral of long time Philadelphia sports Phil Jasner was as classy a move as I’ve seen from a player during 32 years in the game.<br /><br />And I’ve seen many classy acts unlike others who lump all young athletes into one group of knuckleheads with no sense and awareness of how fortunate they are.<br /><br />Indeed, I’m aware how many knuckleheads populate, but I’m also aware of how many chumps there are in my profession and many others.Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-4661773098286848272011-01-03T14:59:00.000-08:002011-01-03T15:14:49.271-08:00Kings win back-to-back home games, but what does it mean? We'll seeIt’s important to attempt to discern what we’re seeing.<br /><br />It’s not just that the Kings have won two of their past three games.<br /><br />Or that they’ve won their past two home games over Memphis and Phoenix, respectively. <br /><br />Or that their 7-24 record results in the NBA’s worst winning percentage at .226. Or that the Kings currently are grouped with the L.A. Clippers (10-24); Minnesota (9-25); New Jersey (9-25); Washington (8-24); Detroit (11-22); Toronto (11-22) and Charlotte (11-20).<br /><br />Basically, these are the worst of the worst. And Sacramento’s .226 winning percentage comes on the heels of two victories, while uplifting in nature, that surely rank as remarkable, if not downright miraculous.<br /><br />Actually, the Kings could have lost those games more easily than they were won.<br /><br />Teams usually do not win with 55-foot shots, buzzer-beaters as the Kings did with Tyreke Evans bomb against Memphis.<br /><br />Nor do they normally outscore their opponents, 19-2, during the game’s final six minutes by limiting a team to one basket in its final 10 possessions as they did against Phoenix.<br /><br />There can be no sugar-coating where the Kings and the rest of these teams reside in the NBA’s hierarchy. We’re talking way on the outside hoping to get into a position in which they can look.<br /><br />While assessing the Kings, the surroundings cannot be ignored. The teams whom share Sacramento’s early-season struggles have youthful bases.<br /><br />New Jersey (Avery Johnson) and Washington (Flip Saunders) are considered first-class coaches. Larry Brown almost is universally acknowledged to be one of the world’s best coaches, yet he’s already been replaced in Charlotte by Paul Silas.<br /><br />Others such as the Clippers, Minnesota, Detroit and Toronto have relatively young, new and/or inexperienced coaches.<br /><br />The league’s most successful coach – the L.A. Lakers’ Phil Jackson – has his own problems at this time. Granted, the two-time NBA champion Lakers’ problems are relative and totally unlike those of the bottom-barrel group.<br /><br />Yet, problems are problems and as Kings coach Paul Westphal alluded to following the victory over Memphis, the season can be described as attempting to plug leaks in a dike. Just when a hole is filled, another arises.<br /><br />Many of the teams struggling to win also struggle to score. The Kings rank sixth from the bottom in scoring at 94.1 points per game. The inability to score usually indicates a lack of prime-time talent.<br /><br />Yet, New Orleans averages 93.9 points with all-star point guard Chris Paul running the show. There are no givens when teams struggle other than all teams will. Some just will do it more and longer than others.<br /><br />Clearly, the recent performances of rookie center DeMarcus Cousins have given the Kings reason for optimism. While Cousins figures his way, the Kings should be realizing their course of patience with the 20-year-old must be followed.<br /><br />Cousins’ youth and inexperience will be a factor, but his growth cannot be denied. Cousins understands his growth also requires patience. As much as he’d like to be an immediate dominant presence, he has to learn the league, his teammates and himself.<br /><br />Said Westphal of Cousins, “He’s cutting down some of his impatient mistakes and doing a better job of getting a wider base. He’s reading the defenses better, before he makes his move and he’s staying out of foul trouble.”<br /><br />Cousins has a unique and distinctive game. He’s listed at 6-foot-11, yet at times he plays the game as if he’s a 6-footer. He’ll attempt to push the ball upcourt via the dribble or lay in the backcourt to try to poke the ball away from a guard.<br /><br />These aren’t particularly smart moves, but they are part of what makes him who he is. Cousins isn’t scared and that heart in a big man has been needed around here a little longer than virtually forever.<br /><br />He plays as if he‘s a big guy who grew tall relatively late instead of always being a big guy. He says that’s not the case.<br /><br />“For me, I was never afraid to try stuff,” he said Sunday night after scoring a career-high 28 points, grabbing eight rebounds and handing out season-high and team-leading six assists. “When I first started playing ball, I used to take off dribbling the ball and coaches would flip their (lids). I’d just keep going and I guess I’ve benefited from it.<br /><br />“My shot has been messed up, but I’m comfortable shooting (15-footers).”<br /><br />The extra bonus Sacramento gets with Cousins is he is naturally silly and funny. It’s difficult ever imaging an uptight locker room with him roaming with walk-bys.<br /><br />When told most of the Phoenix players believed he’d walked on a key fourth-quarter, three-point play, he said, “I took eight steps because I had a guy (Robin Lopez) on my back and I couldn’t control that.”<br /><br />What Westphal and the rest of the Kings coaching staff and front office have not been capable of controlling is the players’ inability to make shots. It’s the coaching staff’s job to help their players get good shots. The coaches can’t make the shots for them.<br /><br />Perhaps the players need to put in more work and control what they can control.<br /><br />Witness 23.1 percent field-goal shooting (6-for-26) in the first quarter against Phoenix and 35 percent shooting in the second quarter. Then the Kings shoot 61.1 percent (11-for-18) in the third quarter and 10 of 20 in the fourth.<br /><br />Explain that! Moreover, the Kings made eight of their last 12 shots in the fourth, so that means they missed six of their first eight. Explain that, too!<br /><br />We’re still waiting to see what the Kings look like if they play a solid 48 minutes. It was nice Sunday, however, to see Sacramento receive workmanlike performances from Francisco Garcia, Omri Casspi, Carl Landry, Jason Thompson as well as Cousins. For once it didn’t matter that Evans and Beno Udrih stunk up the joint.<br /><br />And it didn’t hurt that Pooh Jeter contributed four points, four assists and no turnovers during the fourth quarter, his only 12 minutes of action.Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-64494451863567456092010-12-28T00:26:00.000-08:002010-12-28T00:34:02.982-08:00Kings lose again; Evans talks foot procedureImagine attending an NBA game with the Sacramento Kings playing host to the Los Angeles Clippers Monday night at Arco Arena and what evolved before you was an entertaining, competitive – OK, not always well-thought out – contest with both also-rans showing promise for the future.<br /><br />Ultimately, the outcome came down to the luck of the bounce.<br /><br />And as things usually go when you’ve lost eight straight and an almost unbelievably-bad 22 of your past 24 games, bounces aren’t exactly flowing on the positive for Sacramento.<br /><br />Kings’ guard Tyreke Evans hurried a one-handed tap of a missed rebound and tip by rookie DeMarcus Cousins. Evans’ shot rolled off the rim at the buzzer and left the Kings on the negative side of a 100-99 defeat.<br /><br />Evans began that portion of the possession when it was ruled he’d was in the act of attempting a three-point shot when fouled by Clippers forward Ryan Gomes with 1.9 seconds left.<br /><br />The whistle appeared to come before Evans stopped dribbling to raise for the shot, but with L.A. holding a 100-97 lead, the second-year guard was awarded three free-throw attempts.<br /><br />Evans swished the first two attempts, but slightly short-armed the third and it bounced off the rim. Cousins appeared to have an opportunity to tip in the miss, but never left the floor.<br /><br />“(Clippers’ rookie) Blake (Griffin) pulled me down,” Cousins said of the explosive second-year performer who lined up with inside position on the attempts. “I could have tipped that ball in. But the ref didn’t call it so there is nothing I can do about it. It was a great effort by Blake.<br /><br />“A sneaky play,” Cousins said of Griffin, “but he did a tough thing.”<br /><br />Kings coach Paul Westphal said he had a chance to view the replay before entering the post-game media session, but said he didn’t want to comment for fear of being fined.<br /><br />“Report what you saw,” the coach said.<br /><br />Once again, the Kings appeared to have defied the odds while leaving the floor in defeat when signs pointed to victory.<br /><br />The Clippers (10-22) committed 22 turnovers to minimize their their 48-34 rebounding advantage. Sacramento made a season-high 13 three-point field-goal attempts and shot 50 percent from behind the arc.<br /><br />Evans scored a season-high 32 points during a sweet battle with Clippers guard Eric Gordon (31 points). Evans shot 11 of 24 from the field (including three of six from three-point range) and then dropped another bomb post-game.<br /><br />Evans said he and agent Bob Myers had discussed possibly undergoing a procedure on his left foot that hopefully would correct the plantar fasciitis giving him problems.<br /><br />“I talked to my agent about getting something done,” Evans said while admitting he didn’t know much about the procedure.<br /><br />Evans said it was possible the procedure could be done following the all-star break. He also said the procedure might disable him for three to four months. He did not say why he said last week his foot no longer an issue. Nor did he say why he might wait until mid-February before undergoing the procedure.<br /><br />Evans appears to be in a quandary about how to get his foot treated.<br /><br />He also said his agent was supposed to get back to him with more information.<br /><br />Perhaps the most informative stance Evans took was his foot felt pretty good Monday night and he’s cleared his mind over the weekend aided by an hour-long conversation with his mother visiting from Chester, Pa.<br /><br />“I didn’t really want to talk to anybody, not my brothers or anybody,” Evans, 21, said. “My mom knocked on my door and I didn’t want to let her in, but I did.”<br /><br />Smart move, No.1, Evans said because his mom doesn’t play with the cane she uses to help get around.<br /><br />“I’ve always been pretty laid-back,” he said, “and I usually don’t talk about stuff with people. All this losing has been tough, so I’ve just been trying to go out and have fun. I was trying not to let it show. I talked with my mom and grandma and I’ve got to put it behind me… put it in the past.”<br /><br />Evans never did get specifically into what has been bothering him over the past couple of months.<br /><br />“It’s something between me and my family and I’ll just leave it at that,” he said.<br /><br />Evans also said he was fouled by Clippers guard Baron Davis while attempting a short baseline jumper with about nine seconds remaining and the Kings trailing, 98-97.<br /><br />“Baron Davis fouled me but (the referees) didn’t call it and we haven’t been getting calls like that all year,” Evans said truthfully.<br /><br />Perhaps the saddest situation is the Kings realize even the Clippers are getting calls they are not.<br /><br />It’s clear the officiating crew of Derrick Stafford, Leroy Richardson and Gary Zielinski –already gave all-star status to Griffith, a soon-to-be all-star. Griffith, whose picture can be found in the dictionary next to athletic, beast-like human, scored 24 points, grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds and had four assists.<br /><br />“It’s not hype with that guy,” Westphal said of Griffith, “he’s really that good.”<br /><br />His presence was a major reason why the Clippers held a 50-26 advantage in points scored in the paint.<br /><br />And it didn’t hurt Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro to bring in former Kings forward Ike Diogu, who scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds during 22 minutes.<br /><br />Said Westphal truthfully and perhaps self-incriminatingly, “I can’t remember a team that has held a fourth-quarter lead recently as many times as we have with nothing to show for it.”Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-62498140093992746292010-12-22T16:33:00.000-08:002010-12-22T16:49:19.187-08:00Kings put 'F' in futilityMarty Mac’s World – 12-22-2010<br /><br />If you’ve come looking for answers, you’re in the wrong place.<br /><br />I’ve been watching the Sacramento Kings (5-21) consistently for the past 20 years. NBA veteran observers such as me like to believe and say nothing surprises them.<br /><br />Yet, I was perplexed when walking out of Arco Arena Tuesday night following Sacramento’s come-from-ahead 117-109 overtime loss to Golden State.<br /><br />What was that I’d just seen? As I said, I’ve seen the Kings since 1990 and just knew I’d seen pretty much every possible type of collapse. I’ve seen the Kings lose more than 40 consecutive road games as well as get out-shot from the free-throw line by Shaquille O’Neal at home in Game Seven of the 2002 Western Conference Finals.<br /><br />Almost inevitably included in every collapse are the losing team misses free-throws down the stretch. The Kings, read Beno Udrih, made each of his four attempts during the final 14.3 seconds.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Golden State (10-18) twice in five seconds during the game’s final 19 of regulation was fouled attempting a three-point attempt. Then the Warriors missed three of the six free-throw attempts.<br /><br />And because they did, amazingly they gave themselves a chance to win.<br /><br />The Kings wouldn’t let Golden State lose. They committed nine fourth-quarter turnovers and that doesn’t include one of the dumbest shots ever. With Sacramento leading, 98-93, the Kings inbounded following a Dorell Wright foul with 31.1 seconds left and veteran swingman Francisco Garcia inexplicably hoisted a wide-open three-point shot.<br /><br />Perhaps even scarier than the ill-timed attempt was Garcia saying after the game he took the shot because he wanted to stick a dagger into the Warriors.<br /><br />Garcia is one of the team’s best free-throw shooters and the intelligent play would have been to take time off the clock. Had Garcia just held the ball, Golden State likely would have had to foul. If Garcia makes two free throws, the Kings are up seven points with approximately 20 seconds remaining.<br /><br />There’s the dagger, ‘Cisco.<br /><br />Instead, Garcia became part of the team-wide dagger the Kings shoved into their own chest. DeMarcus Cousins lost the handle on a Reggie Williams free-throw miss with two seconds. Golden State turned that possession into Vladimir Radmanovic’s 27-foot, game-tying three-pointer.<br /><br />Udrih scored a career-high 34 points, but fouled Williams on a three-point attempt. Then Carl Landry did the same thing four seconds later when he Wright to the line.<br /><br />Coach Paul Westphal could have inserted Samuel Dalembert to perhaps get the rebound Cousins did not. The coach could have stationed five smaller players around the arc on the last play of regulation and told them to ignore every player inside the three-point line.<br /><br />Perhaps the craziest thing of this crazy game was how many times Golden State failed to take advantage of opportunities and still won.<br /><br />Ultimately, though, where do the Kings go from here? Do you change the coach? How soon will the calls for talented, but quirky also-rans Larry Brown and Don Nelson begin? Do you gut the entire project starting from President Geoff Petrie?<br /><br />Does Petrie stay and begin to shake up this roster? The addition of one, possibly two more veterans would do a world of good for all things Kings.<br /><br />Do the Maloofs get so scared and frustrated they open their checkbooks and say we have to pay the cost to the be the boss and improve the product they are putting out to a dwindling fan base?<br /><br />Their record is the league’s worst and the Kings are coming off one of the worst defeats imaginable.<br /><br />From a franchise perspective, one has to go back to the 1958-59 Cincinnati Royals to find a team that was 5-21. The’73-74 Kansas City-Omaha Kings were 6-21 before finishing 33-49.<br /><br />As a team, the Kings seem to be sticking together as they should. Since they are stinking it up together, they might as well stay together.Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-80421856193886236902010-12-02T07:19:00.000-08:002010-12-10T11:00:15.259-08:00The Kings have more issues than LeBron has hatersThe Sacramento Kings have lost five straight and 11 of their past 12 games. They are 4-12 overall and an incredibly poor 2-8 at home.<br /><br />Friday night, the Kings travel to play the two-time defending champion Los Angeles <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Lakers</span> who (in the words of late comedian Robin Harris) will be ‘pissed to the highest of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">pisstivity</span>’ (no, that’s not a word) after losing four straight games.<br /><br />The next night the Kings host the Dallas Mavericks, who currently share the NBA’s longest winning streak (with Utah) at seven.<br /><br />Coach Paul <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Westphal</span> felt the need Monday to kick the team’s first-round draft choice, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">DeMarcus</span> Cousins, out of practice.<br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Tyreke</span> Evans, last season’s Rookie of the Year, for the first time of his 21 years, is having difficulty scoring.<br /><br />Moreover, judging Evans from his words, he’s feeling like some of his teammates think he’s at times playing selfishly.<br /><br />“I’m thinking team-first,” Evans said. “If I score and guys (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">aren</span>’t) getting touches then that’s when they just stop playing and think I’m selfish. So I try to go out there and get my teammates involved and to play hard.<br /><br />“I’m just trying to figure out, whether it’s score or get assists, how to get us going.”<br /><br />That some of his teammates feel Evans plays selfishly comes as no surprise because at times I’<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">ve</span> felt the same way.<br /><br />Evans clearly is feeling the weight of the constant losing. Evans is a talent trying to lead when in a best-case scenario he would be the one being led. As we know, though, this is far from a best-case scenario.<br /><br />Cousins, meanwhile, is another talent attempting to find his way. He’s in a new place and time. He’s a first-time professional dealing with, and seeing new situations.<br /><br />A lot is made of Cousins’ immaturity and at 20 years and three months he’s hardly a finished product. He’s got a lot to learn and he <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">doesn</span>’t know as much as he thinks.<br /><br />The kid should be focused only on himself and improving his game. Yet, he thinks he knows so much he feels entitled to question his coaching staff. Looking back on my life, one of the most important things to learn is when to shut up.<br /><br />And 55, I’m much better at it, but sometimes I falter.<br /><br />Cousins said Tuesday before the game he’d said nothing to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Westphal</span> and the coach had said nothing to him.<br /><br />“I haven’t said (anything) to him and he <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">didn</span>’t say anything to me,” said Cousins, who then scored 20 points on nine of 16 field-goal attempts and grabbed eight rebounds in nearly 23 minutes of the 107-98 loss to Indiana.<br /><br />“It’s a new day. I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">didn</span>’t dwell on it. We’<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">ve</span> got to move on.”<br /><br />When asked why he <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">didn</span>’t talk to Cousins the day after tossing him from practice, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">Westphal</span> said with a laugh, “He heard enough from me (Monday).”<br /><br />That may have been true, but it may not have been the whole truth. There is the possibility that the rookie <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">doesn</span>’t like the coach. Cousins probably <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">doesn</span>’t know <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">Westphal</span> well enough to know if he likes him or <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error">doesn</span>’t.<br /><br />Truthfully, it’s neither here nor there. Cousins is an employee and has to find a way of dealing with his boss respectfully. I haven’t liked each of my supervisors but I never was intentionally disrespectful. That’s unprofessional and learning to be a pro is one of the new obstacles Cousins faces.<br /><br />It might help the young boy to realize <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error">Westphal</span> wants nothing more than to consistently help him uncover more of his talent.<br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error">Westphal</span> was asked if dealing with Cousins will compare with any past player-coach relationships.<br /><br />“Oh, yeah,” the coach said with an incredulous look. “Have you looked at who I’<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-error">ve</span> coached?”<br /><br />I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-error">hadn</span>’t, but I now have. Over the years while coaching Phoenix and Seattle, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_23" class="blsp-spelling-error">Westphal</span> had 3½ seasons of Charles Barkley and 2½ seasons of Gary Payton. Throw in Tom Chambers, Oliver Miller, Dale Ellis, a sometimes intoxicated Vin Baker, Ruben Patterson and my main man, the incendiary Vernon Maxwell.<br /><br />That’s one special group of players and hardly a mouth monitor between them.<br /><br />Yeah, Cousins has a long, long, long way to go before he gets into that neighborhood of mind-speak.<br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_24" class="blsp-spelling-error">Westphal</span> says neither he nor the organization had blinders on when they drafted Cousins. The Kings knew Cousins was a vocally emotional talent.<br /><br />“I love the guy,” the coach said of the player. “We’re going to have ups and downs and we’re going to have some more downs. We’re going to butt heads.<br /><br />“We knew that when we drafted him. He’s our guy. We’re going to keep working with him. And he’s going to get better. And someday, we’ll look back, hopefully, and I’ll say, ‘You sure were a knucklehead.’<br /><br />“And he’ll say, ‘I know, but thanks for sticking with me.’<br /><br />“I mean, he’s got passion. And he also can be impatient and misplace his passion. And we’re trying to help him.”<br /><br />But you also have to be respectful.<br /><br />“I’<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_25" class="blsp-spelling-error">ve</span> heard a lot worse than <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_26" class="blsp-spelling-error">DeMarcus</span> has given me, believe me. I love <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_27" class="blsp-spelling-error">DeMarcus</span> and he’ll either love me know or he’ll love me soon again.”<br /><br />In my opinion, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_28" class="blsp-spelling-error">Westphal</span> Tuesday in that loss to Indiana went way beyond sensibility in the third quarter of the loss to Indiana, to show Evans he had his back during these tough times.<br /><br />The Kings were going through one of those once a game tough stretches that kill them. Evans was turning the ball over and generally playing poorly. Luther Head scored the team’s only field goals during first 10 minutes of the quarter.<br /><br />The situation called for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_29" class="blsp-spelling-error">Beno</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_30" class="blsp-spelling-error">Udrih</span>, who made each of his six first-half field-goal attempts on the way to 15 points, to replace Evans. Yet, the coach waited nine minutes before he subbed in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_31" class="blsp-spelling-error">Udrih</span>.<br /><br />Personally, I’d have squatted <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_32" class="blsp-spelling-error">Tyreke</span>’s butt with the quickness while the Kings were being outscored, 17-2, to start the quarter.<br /><br />Said <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_33" class="blsp-spelling-error">Westphal</span>, “How can a young guy get to know how handle situations until he plays the minutes. I’m not going to take <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_34" class="blsp-spelling-error">Tyreke</span> out if misses a couple of shots or makes a couple of bad plays, like he’s no good., because I think he’s very good.”<br /><br />Meanwhile, Evans says his team has to find a way to play a solid 48 minutes, and a team meeting last week <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_35" class="blsp-spelling-error">didn</span>’t help. Yet, he believes the team remains confident.<br /><br />“Definitely,” he said. “We’<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_36" class="blsp-spelling-error">ve</span> got the players. (A lack of) execution is what is killing us. We’<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_37" class="blsp-spelling-error">ve</span> got to stay together.<br /><br />“We’<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_38" class="blsp-spelling-error">ve</span> had a meeting, but it was like in one ear and out the other. It was without the coaches. I think it was Sunday.<br /><br />“We’re just frustrated right now and we’re trying to find a way. It’s tough right now.”<br /><br /><br />On an entirely different front, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_39" class="blsp-spelling-error">Lebron</span> James goes back to Cleveland for the first time and I can’t wait to see how it plays out.<br /><br />If I was James, I’d be trying to get 50 in our victory. If I’m playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, there’s little I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_40" class="blsp-spelling-error">wouldn</span>’t do to drop an ‘L’ on his way out of town.<br /><br />Intense feelings on both sides – not to mention the crowd - should make for a great game.Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-32357761589316397072010-11-30T02:37:00.000-08:002010-11-30T02:44:02.281-08:00Kings always have one up their sleevesThe 2010 version of the Sacramento Kings is setting up to be quite interesting.<br /><br />And it is just 15 games into the 82-game regular season. Already, the Kings have had major defensive, offensive and on-court chemistry issues.<br /><br />Word is they’ve got a bunch of young talents, who are not showing an inclination to listen to the coaching staff or showing a collective dedication to hard work.<br /><br />Until there is an acquisition of those two required traits, it will be difficult for the Kings (4-11) to maximize their strengths.<br /><br />They’ve got 10 losses in their past 11 games entering tonight’s home game against the Indiana Pacers as an example of what not to do.<br /><br />Other teams are experiencing problems of a similar nature to those of Sacramento. Consider the Miami Heat, a team many believed capable of contending for an NBA title this season after the free-agent signings of LeBron James and Chris Bosh and the re-signing of Dwayne Wade.<br /><br />The Heat’s problems aren’t exactly like Sacramento’s, yet attempting to mesh its considerable talent into a consistent force is very much akin to what is going on here.<br /><br />Tyreke Evans, last season’s Rookie of the Year, is struggling. Of all the problems one would have imagined, Evans having difficulty scoring was not one.<br /><br />Yet, that’s been a major problem early into his second pro season.<br /><br />First-round draft choice, DeMarcus Cousins, was tossed from practice Monday afternoon, reportedly for running his mouth to the coaching staff. Like Evans, Cousins has had problems scoring and is shooting just 38 percent from the field.<br /><br />It’s likely these players are experiencing these difficulties for the first times in their lives.<br /><br />The Kings are coming off a weekend home loss to the Chicago Bulls that displayed their season in a microcosm. Sacramento was superb during the first half while establishing a 57-44 lead.<br /><br />The Kings held a 71-57 advantage with 3:23 left in the third before their game disintegrated into basketball mush.<br /><br />Then their fourth-quarter performance was so putrid it had to be seen to be believed.<br /><br />Sacramento made just three of 21 field-goal attempts, committed eight turnovers and was outscored, 27 to nine.<br /><br />That nine-point mention is not a typographic error. The Kings scored nine points during 12 minutes despite having 29 possessions.<br /><br />Coach Paul Westphal still is attempting to find the right combination of players to invest in basics. Moving the ball to the open man, covering for teammates defensively and following the team’s principles would be an excellent beginning.<br /><br />No one is expecting the Kings to consistently perform at a playoff level. Yet, the Kings clearly can play better than they have.<br /><br />Antoine Wright was waived Monday and Hasaan Whiteside was sent to the NBDL to play with Reno.<br /><br />Kings president Geoff Petrie said the team doesn’t plan to add any more players in the short term.<br /><br />“We’ve got to find a way of playing better together,” Petrie said Monday. “We’ve got to generate a more consistent offense.”<br /><br />There is another one of those basics the Kings must adopt.Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-39194941813338089162010-11-22T12:40:00.000-08:002010-11-22T12:56:16.921-08:00Kings can't handle ball or New OrleansThe Sacramento Kings played their best defensive game of the season and still lost, 75-71, Sunday afternoon at home to the New Orleans Hornets.<br /><br />That’s how things can go for a team, now 4-8, attempting to find its way. The Kings lost a four-point game because they made just 60 percent (9 of 15) of their free-throw attempts.<br /><br />Conversely, New Orleans (11-1) missed just one of 16 free-throw attempts.<br /><br />Sacramento lost because it had 13 possessions during the fourth quarter’s final six minutes and made just two of 10 field-goal attempts and committed three turnovers.<br /><br />That usually will not result in victory.<br /><br />The Kings committed 22 turnovers that New Orleans turned into 23 points. That's nearly one-third of the team's scoring.<br /><br />It was a team-wide Kings turnover fest. Three players committed three turnovers and three committed four.<br /><br />Coach Paul Westphal said half of those turnovers were unforced and shouldn't have occurred.<br /><br />“What we’re doing is very simple,” he said of the team's offense, “and we’re not running something different at the end of the game that we’re running all through the game.”<br /><br />So the Kings aren’t executing. That statement also could be taken that perhaps they need to do some things differently down the stretch to give defenses other options to consider.<br /><br />However, moving the ball to the open man truly is what the Kings need. Many times during the game, the Kings fail to make the simple pass to the open man. It’s not rocket science.<br /><br />The Kings would like to play an up-tempo offense and passing, not dribbling, the ball up court is a key. Then making the next pass to the open man is key to offensive success. Often, that will be Tyreke Evans making that first pass to the open man. And until it is, the Kings offense will not smoothly function.<br /><br />Granted, the Kings are a young squad, but youth has nothing to do with playing unselfishly and intelligently.<br /><br />Certainly experience on New Orleans’ behalf and inexperience on Sacramento’s side played a role in the game’s final minutes. The Hornets basically kept the ball in the hands of point guard Chris Paul and forward David West. Those are two experienced and proven closers.<br /><br />That’s two more than Sacramento has right now. Paul set up two plays off pick-and-rolls that led to West making two open wing jump shots. West made his last two shots to finish eight of 19 from the field.<br /><br />However, no matter what plays are drawn up by any coach, a player has to make shots.<br /><br />Additionally, the Hornets lead the league in defensive field-goal percentage at 42.5. So it’s not a complete surprise the Kings struggled offensively. The true surprise was Sacramento limiting New Orleans to 32.2 percent shooting.<br /><br />The Kings have improved defensively in their past two games heading into Monday night’s game at Utah.<br /><br />And as Westphal said, “It’s just a shame to play that well defensively against a team with one of the best records in basketball and walk out of the gym with a loss.”<br /><br />It also was a shame to waste Donte Greene’s 15-point, 10-rebound performance in 32 minutes.<br /><br />Indeed. The Kings, however, will not win many games with 14 assists and 22 turnovers. That’s unacceptable.<br /><br />The overall concept is playing consistently at each end of the court and that’s what the Kings still are striving to reach. Playing on the road in Salt Lake City against the Utah Jazz is not the ideal situation, but it's what the Kings have before them tonight.Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com2